Part 21

_Ἠκα_ is an adjective of sound, it is purely objective, even _submisse_[2] is an addition; though _Ἠκα_ might, by a slight strain, be taken to mean that the speech of the old men came little by little, a phrase from each of the elders. Still it would be purely objective. It does not even say they spoke humbly or with resignation.

Chapman is no closer than his successor. He is so _galant_ in fact, that I thought I had found his description in Rochefort. The passage is splendid, but splendidly unhomeric:

"All grave old men, and soldiers they had been, but for age Now left the wars; yet counsellors they were exceedingly sage. And as in well-grown woods, on trees, cold spiny grasshoppers Sit chirping, and send voices out, that scarce can pierce our ears For softness, and their weak faint sounds; so, talking on the tow'r, These seniors of the people sat; who when they saw the pow'r Of beauty, in the queen, ascend, ev'n those cold-spirited peers, Those wise and almost wither'd men, found this heat in their years, That they were forc'd (though whispering) to say: 'What man can blame The Greeks and Trojans to endure, for so admir'd a dame, So many mis'ries, and so long? In her sweet count'nance shine Looks like the Goddesses. And yet (though never so divine) Before we boast, unjustly still, of her enforced prise, And justly suffer for her sake, with all our progenies, Labor and ruin, let her go; the profit of our land Must pass the beauty.' Thus, though these could bear so fit a hand On their affections, yet, when all their gravest powers were us'd They could not choose but welcome her, and rather they accus'd The Gods than beauty; for thus spake the most-fam'd king of Troy:"

The last sentence representing mostly "fis _Ὤς ἄρ ἔφα_ in the line:

_Ὤς ἄρ ἔφαν' Πρίαμος δ'Ἑλένην έκαλέσσατο φωνῇ_

"Sic dixerunt: Priamus autem Helenam vocavit voce."

Chapman is nearer Swinburne's ballad with:

"But those three following men," etc.

than to his alleged original.

Rochefort is as follows (_Iliade_, Livre iii, M. de Rochefort, 1772):

"Hélène à ce discours sentit naître en son âme Un doux ressouvenir de sa première flamme; Le désir de revoir les lieux qu'elle a quittés Jette un trouble inconnu dans ses sens agités. Tremblante elle se lève et les yeux pleins de larmes, D'un voile éblouissant elle couvre ses charmes; De deux femmes suivie elle vole aux remparts. La s'étaient assemblés ces illustres vieillards Qui courbés sous le faix des travaux et de l'age N'alloient plus au combat signaler leur courage, Mais qui, près de leur Roi, par de sages avis, Mieux qu'en leurs jeunes ans défendoient leur païs.

Dans leurs doux entretiens, leur voix toujours égale Ressembloit aux accents que forme la cigale, Lorsqu'aux longs jours d'été cachée en un buisson, Elle vient dans les champs annoncer la moisson. Une tendre surprise enflamma leurs visages; Frappés de ses appas, ils se disoient entre eux: 'Qui pourroit s'étonner que tant de Rois fameux, Depuis neuf ans entiers aient combattu pour elle? Sur le trône des cieux Vénus n'est pas plus belle. Mais quelque soit l'amour qu'inspirent ses attraits, Puisse Illion enfin la perdre pour jamais, Puisse-t-elle bientôt à son époux rendue, Conjurer l'infortune en ces lieux attendue.'"

Hugues Salel (1545), praised by Ronsard, is more pleasing:

"Le Roi Priam, et auec luy bon nombre De grandz Seigneurs estoient à l'ombre Sur les Crenaulx, Tymoetes et Panthus, Lampus, Clytus, excellentz en vertus, Hictaon renomme en bataille, Ucalegon iadis de fort taille, Et Antenor aux armes nompareil Mais pour alors ne seruantz qu'en conseil.

La, ces Vieillards assis de peur du Hasle Causoyent ensemble ainsi que la Cignalle Ou deux ou trois, entre les vertes fueilles, En temps d'Esté gazouillant a merveilles; Lesquelz voyans la diuine Gregeoise, Disoient entre eux que si la grande noise De ces deux camps duroit longe saision, Certainement ce n'estoit sans raision: Veu la Beaulté, et plus que humain outrage, Qui reluysoit en son diuin visaige. Ce neantmoins il vauldrait mieulx la rendre, (Ce disoyent ilz) sans guères plus attendre. Pour éviter le mal qui peult venir, Qui la voudra encores retenir."

Salel is a most delightful approach to the Iliads; he is still absorbed in the subject-matter, as Douglas and Golding were absorbed in their subject-matter. Note how exact he is in the rendering of the old men's mental attitude. Note also that he is right in his era. I mean simply that Homer _is_ a little _rustre_, a little, or perhaps a good deal, mediæval, he has not the dovetailing of Ovid. He has onomatopœia, as of poetry sung out; he has authenticity of conversation as would be demanded by an intelligent audience not yet laminated with æsthetics; capable of recognizing reality. He has the repetitions of the _chanson de geste_. Of all the French and English versions I think Salel alone gives any hint of some of these characteristics. Too obviously he is not onomatopœic, no. But he is charming, and readable, and "Briseis Fleur des Demoiselles" has her reality.

Nicolo Valla is, for him who runs, closer:

"Consili virtus, summis de rebus habebant Sermones, et multa inter se et magna loquentes, Arboribus quales gracili stridere cicadæ Sæpe solent cantu, postquam sub moenibus altis Tyndarida aspiciunt, procerum tum quisque fremebat, Mutuasque exorsi, Decuit tot funera Teucros Argolicasque pati, longique in tempore bellum Tantus in ore decor cui non mortalis in artus Est honor et vultu divina efflagrat imago. Diva licet facies, Danauum cum classe recedat Longius excido ne nos aut nostra fatiget Pignora sic illi tantis de rebus agebant."

This hexameter is rather heavily accented. It shows, perhaps, the source of various "ornaments" in later English and French translations. It has indubitable sonority even though monotonous.

It is the earliest Latin verse rendering I have yet come upon, and is bound in with Raphael of Volterra's first two Iliads, and some further renderings by Obsopeo.

_Odyssea_ (Liber primus) (1573).

"Dic mihi musa uirum captae post tempora Troiae Qui mores hominum multorum uidit et urbes Multa quoque et ponto passus dum naufragus errat Ut sibi tum sociis uitam seruaret in alto Non tamen hos cupens fato deprompsit acerbo Ob scelus admissum extinctos ausumque malignum Qui fame compulsu solis rapuere iuvencos Stulti ex quo reditum ad patrias deus abstulit oras. Horum itaque exitium memora mihi musa canenti."

_Odyssea_ (Lib. sec.) (1573).

"Cumprimum effulsit roseis aurora quadrigis Continuo e stratis proies consurgit Ulyxis Induit et uestes humerosque adcomodat ensem Molia denin pedibus formosis uincula nectit Parque deo egrediens thalamo praeconibus omnis Concilio cognant extemplo mandat Achaeos Ipse quoque ingentem properabat ad aedibus hastam Corripiens: gemenique canes comitantor euntem Quumque illi mirum Pallas veneranda decorem Preberer populus venientem suspicit omnis Inque throno patrio ueteres cessere sedenti."

The charm of Salel is continued in the following excerpts. They do not cry out for comment. I leave Ogilby's English and the lines of Latin to serve as contrast or cross-light.

_Iliade_ (Livre I). Hugues Salel (1545).[3]

THE IRE

"Je te supply Déesse gracieuse, Vouloir chanter l'Ire pernicieuse, Dont Achille fut tellement espris, Que par icelle, ung grand nombre d'espritz Des Princes Grecs, par dangereux encombres, Feit lors descente aux infernales Umbres. Et leurs beaulx Corps privéz de Sépulture Furent aux chiens et aux oiseaulx pasture."

_Iliade_ (Lib. III). John Ogilby (1660).

HELEN

"Who in this chamber, sumpteously adornd Sits on your ivory bed, nor could you say, By his rich habit, he had fought to-day: A reveller or masker so comes drest, From splendid sports returning to his rest. Thus did love's Queen warmer desires prepare. But when she saw her neck so heavenly faire, Her lovely bosome and celestial eyes, Amazed, to the Goddess, she replies: Why wilt thou happless me once more betray, And to another wealthy town convey, Where some new favourite must, as now at Troy With utter loss of honour me enjoy."

_Iliade_ (Livre VI). Salel.

GLAUCUS RESPOND À DIOMÈDE

"Adonc Glaucus, auec grace et audace, Luy respondit: 'T'enquiers tu de ma race? Le genre humain est fragile et muable Comme la fueille et aussi peu durable. Car tout ainsi qu'on uoit les branches uertes Sur le printemps de fueilles bien couuertes Qui par les uents d'automne et la froidure Tombent de l'arbre et perdent leur uerdure Puis de rechef la gelée passée, Il en reuient à la place laissée: Ne plus ne moins est du lignage humain: Tel est huy uif qui sera mort demain. S'il en meurt ung, ung autre reuint naistre. Voylà comment se conserue leur estre.'"

_Iliade_ (Lib. VI). As in Virgil, Dante, and others.

"Quasim gente rogas? Quibus et natalibus ortus? Persimile est foliis hominum genus omne caduciis Quae nunc nata uides, pulchrisque, uirescere sylvis Automno ueniente cadunt, simul illa perurens Incubuit Boreas: quaedam sub uerna renasci Tempora, sic uice perpetua succrescere lapsis, Semper item nova, sic alliis obeuntibus, ultro Succedunt alii luuenes aetate grauatis. Quod si forte iuvat te qua sit quisque suorum Stirpe satus, si natales cognoscere quaeris Forte meos, referam, quae sunt notissima multis."

_Iliade_ (Livre IX). Salel.

CALYDON

"En Calydon règnoit Oenéus, ung bon Roy qui donnoit De ses beaulx Fruictz chascun an les Primices Aux Immortelz, leur faisant Sacrifices. Or il aduint (ou bien par son uouloir, Ou par oubly) qu'il meit à nonchalloir Diane chaste, et ne luy feit offrande, Dont elle print Indignation grande Encontre luy, et pour bien le punir Feit ung Sanglier dedans ses Champs uenir Horrible et fier qui luy feit grand dommage Tuant les Gens et gastant le Fruictage. Maintz beaulx Pomiers, maintz Arbres reuestuz De Fleur et Fruict, en furent abattuz, Et de la Dent aguisée et poinctue, Le Bléd gasté et la Vigne tortue. Méléager, le Filz de ce bon Roy, Voyant ainsi le piteux Désarroy De son Pays et de sa Gent troublée Proposa lors de faire une Assemblée De bons Veneurs et Leutiers pour chasser L'horrible Beste et sa Mort pourchasser. Ce qui fut faict. Maintes Gens l'y trouvèrent Qui contre luy ses Forces éprouvèrent; Mais à la fin le Sanglier inhumain Receut la Mort de sa Royale Main. Estant occis, deux grandes Nations Pour la Dépouille eurent Contentions Les Curetois disoient la mériter, Ceulx d'Etolie en uouloient hériter."

_Iliade_ (Livre X). Salel.

THE BATHERS

"Quand Ulysses fut en la riche tente Du compaignon, alors il diligente De bien lier ses cheuaulx et les loge Soigneusement dedans la même loge Et au rang même ou la belle monture Du fort Gregeois mangeoit pain et pasture Quand aux habitz de Dolon, il les pose Dedans la nef, sur la poupe et propose En faire ung jour à Pallas sacrifice, Et luy offrir à jamais son seruice Bien tost après, ces deux Grecs de ualeur Se cognoissant oppresséz de chaleur, Et de sueur, dedans la mer entrèrent Pour se lauer, et três bien so frotèrent Le col, le dos, les jambes et les cuisses, Ostant du corps toutes les immondices, Estans ainsi refreichiz et bien netz, Dedans des baingz souefs bien ordonnez, S'en sont entréz, et quand leurs corps Ont esté oinctz d'huyle par le dehors. Puis sont allez manger prians Minerue Qu'en tous leurs faictz les dirige et conserue En respandant du uin à pleine tasse, (pour sacrifice) au milieu de la place."

II. ANDREAS DIVUS

In the year of grace 1906, '08, or '10 I picked from the Paris quais a Latin version of the _Odyssey_ by Andreas Divus Justinopolitanus (Parisiis, In officina Christiani Wecheli, M, D, XXXVIII), the volume containing also the Batrachomyomachia, by Aldus Manutius, and the "Hymni Deorum" rendered by Georgius Dartona Cretensis. I lost a Latin _Iliads_ for the economy of four francs, these coins being at that time scarcer with me than they ever should be with any man of my tastes and abilities.

In 1911 the Italian savant, Signore E. Teza, published his note, "Quale fosse la Casata di Andreas Divus Justinopolitanus?" This question I am unable to answer, nor do I greatly care by what name Andreas was known in the privacy of his life: Signore Dio, Signore Divino, or even Mijnheer van Gott may have served him as patronymic. Sannazaro, author of _De Partu Virginis,_ and also of the epigram ending _hanc et sugere_, translated himself as Sanctus Nazarenus; I am myself known as Signore Sterlina to James Joyce's children, while the phonetic translation of my name into the Japanese tongue is so indecorous that I am seriously advised not to use it, lest it do me harm in Nippon. (Rendered back _ad verbum_ into our maternal speech it gives for its meaning, "This picture of a phallus costs ten yen." There is no surety in shifting personal names from one idiom to another.)

Justinopolis is identified as Capodistria; what matters is Divus' text. We find for the "Nekuia" (_Odys_. xi):

"At postquam ad navem descendimus, et mare, Nauem quidem primum deduximus in mare diuum, Et malum posuimus et vela in navi nigra: Intro autem oues accipientes ire fecimus, intro et ipsi Iuimus dolentes, huberes lachrymas fundentes: Nobis autem a tergo navis nigræ proræ Prosperum ventum imisit pandentem velum bonum amicum Circe benecomata gravis Dea altiloqua. Nos autem arma singula expedientes in navi Sedebamus: hanc autem ventusque gubernatorque dirigebat: Huius at per totum diem extensa sunt vela pontum transientis: Occidit tunc Sol, ombratæ sunt omnes viæ: Hæc autem in fines pervenit profundi Oceani: Illic autem Cimmeriorum virorum populusque civitasque, Caligine et nebula cooperti, neque unquam ipsos Sol lucidus aspicit radiis, Neque quando tendit ad cœlum stellatum, Neque quando retro in terram a cœlo vertitur: Sed nox pernitiosa extenditur miseris hominibus: Navem quidem illuc venientes traximus, extra autem oves Accepimus: ipsi autem rursus apud fluxum Oceani Iuimus, ut in locum perveniremus quem dixit Circe: Hic sacra quidem Perimedes Eurylochusque Faciebant: ego autem ensem acutum trahens a foemore, Foveam fodi quantum cubiti mensura hinc et inde: Circum ipsam autem libamina fundimus omnibus mortuis; Primum mulso, postea autem dulci vino: Tertio rursus aqua, et farinas albas miscui: Multum autem oravi mortuorum infirma capita: Profectus in Ithicam, sterilem bovem, quæ optima esset, Sacrificare in domibus, pyramque implere bonis: Tiresiæ autem seorsum ovem sacrificare vovi Totam nigram, quæ ovibus antecellat nostris: Has autem postquam votis precationibusque gentes mortuorum Precatus sum, oves autem accipiens obtruncavi: In fossam fluebat autem sanguis niger, congregatasque sunt Animæ ex Erebo cadaverum mortuorum, Nymphæque iuvenesque et multa passi senes, Virginesque teneræ, nuper flebilem animum habentes, Multi autem vulnerati æreis lanceis Viri in bello necati, cruenta arma habentes, Qui multi circum foveam veniebant aliunde alius Magno clamore, me autem pallidus timor cepit. Iam postea socios hortans iussi Pecora, quæ iam iacebant iugulata sævo ære, Excoriantes combuere: supplicare autem Diis, Fortique Plutoni, et laudatæ Proserpinæ. At ego ensem acutum trahens a foemore, Sedi, neque permisi mortuorum impotentia capita Sanguinem prope ire, antequam Tiresiam audirem: Prima autem anima Elpenoris venit socii: Nondum enim sepultus erat sub terra lata, Corpus enim in domo Circes reliquimus nos Infletum et insepultum, quoniam labor alius urgebat: Hunc quidem ego lachrymatus sum videns, misertusque sum aio, Et ipsum clamando verba velocia allocutus sum: Elpenor, quomodo venisti sub caliginem obscuram: Prævenisti pedes existens quam ego in navi nigra? Sic dixi: hic autem mini lugens respondit verbo: Nobilis Laertiade, prudens Ulysse, Nocuit mihi dei fatum malum, et multum vinum: Circes autem in domo dormiens, non animadverti Me retrogradum descendere eundo per scalam longam, Sed contra murum cecidi ast autem mihi cervix Nervorum fracta est, anima autem in infernum descendit: Nunc autem his qui venturi sunt postea precor non præsentibus Per uxorem et patrem, qui educavit parvum existentem, Telemachumque quem solum in domibus reliquisti. Scio enim quod hinc iens domo ex inferni Insulam in Æaeam impellens benefabricatam navim: Tunc te postea Rex iubeo recordari mei Ne me infletum, insepultum, abiens retro, relinquas Separatus, ne deorum ira fiam Sed me combure con armis quæcunque mihi sunt, Sepulchramque mihi accumula cani in litore maris, Viri infelicis, et cuius apud posteras fama sit: Hæcque mihi perfice, figeque in sepulchro remum, Quo et vivus remigabam existens cum meis sociis. Sic dixit: at ego ipsum, respondens, allocutus sum: Hæc tibi infelix perficiamque et faciam: Nos quidem sic verbis respondentes molestis Sedebamus: ego quidem seperatim supra sanguinem ensem tenebam: Idolum autem ex altera parte socii multa loquebatur: Venit autem insuper anima matris mortuæ Autolyci filia magnanimi Anticlea, Quam vivam dereliqui iens ad Ilium sacrum, Hac quidem ego lachrymatus sum videns miseratusque sum aio: Sed neque sic sivi priorem licet valde dolens Sanguinem prope ire, antequam Tiresiam audirem: Venit autem insuper anima Thebani Tiresiæ, Aureum sceptrum tenens, me autem novit et allocuta est: Cur iterum o infelix linquens lumen Solis Venisti, ut videas mortuos, et iniucundam regionem? Sed recede a fossa, remove autem ensem acutum, Sanguinem ut bibam, et tibi vera dicam. Sic dixi: ego autem retrocedens, ensem argenteum Vagina inclusi: hic autem postquam bibit sanguinem nigrum, Et tunc iam me verbis allocutus est vates verus: Reditum quæris dulcem illustris Ulysse: Hanc autem tibi difficilem faciet Deus, non enim puto Latere Neptunum, quam iram imposuit animo Iratus, quem ei filium dilectum excæcasti: Sed tamen et sic mala licet passi pervenientis, Si volveris tuum animum continere et sociorum."

The meaning of the passage is, with a few abbreviations, as I have interpolated it in my Third Canto.

"And then went down to the ship, set keel to breakers, Forth on the godly sea, We set up mast and sail on the swart ship, Sheep bore we aboard her, and our bodies also, Heavy with weeping; and winds from sternward Bore us out onward with bellying canvas, Circe's this craft, the trim-coifed goddess. Then sat we amidships--wind jamming the tiller-- Thus with stretched sail we went over sea till day's end. Sun to his slumber, shadows o'er all the ocean, Came we then to the bounds of deepest water, To the Kimmerian lands and peopled cities Covered with close-webbed mist, unpierced ever With glitter of sun-rays, Nor with stars stretched, nor looking back from heaven, Swartest night stretched over wretched men there, The ocean flowing backward, came we then to the place Aforesaid by Circe. Here did they rites, Perimedes and Eurylochus, And drawing sword from my hip I dug the ell-square pitkin, Poured we libations unto each the dead, First mead and then sweet wine, water mixed with white flour, Then prayed I many a prayer to the sickly death's-heads, As set in Ithaca, sterile bulls of the best For sacrifice, heaping the pyre with goods. Sheep, to Tiresias only; black and a bell sheep. Dark blood flowed in the fosse, Souls out of Erebus, cadaverous dead, Of brides, of youths, and of much-bearing old; Virgins tender, souls stained with recent tears, Many men mauled with bronze lance-heads, Battle spoil, bearing yet dreary arms, These many crowded about me, With shouting, pallor upon me, cried to my men for more beasts. Slaughtered the herds, sheep slain of bronze, Poured ointment, cried to the gods, To Pluto the strong, and praised Proserpine, Unsheathed the narrow sword, I sat to keep off the impetuous, impotent dead Till I should hear Tiresias. But first Elpenor came, our friend Elpenor, Unburied, cast on the wide earth, Limbs that we left in the house of Circe, Unwept, unwrapped in sepulchre, since toils urged other. Pitiful spirit, and I cried in hurried speech: 'Elpenor, how art thou come to this dark coast? Cam'st thou a-foot, outstripping seamen?' And he in heavy speech: 'Ill fate and abundant wine! I slept in Circe's ingle, Going down the long ladder unguarded, I fell against the buttress, Shattered the nape-nerve, the soul sought Avernus. But thou, O King, I bid remember me, unwept, unburied, Heap up mine arms, be tomb by sea-board, and inscribed: "_A man of no fortune and with a name to come._" And set my oar up, that I swung mid fellows.' Came then another ghost, whom I beat off, Anticlea, And then Tiresias, Theban, Holding his golden wand, knew me and spoke first: 'Man of ill hour, why come a second time, Leaving the sunlight, facing the sunless dead, and this joyless region? Stand from the fosse, move back, leave me my bloody bever, And I will speak you true speeches.' And I stepped back, Sheathing the yellow sword. Dark blood he drank then, And spoke: 'Lustrous Odysseus Shalt return through spiteful Neptune, over dark seas, Lose all companions.' Foretold me the ways and the signs. Came then Anticlea, to whom I answered: 'Fate drives me on through these deeps. I sought Tiresias,' Told her the news of Troy. And thrice her shadow Faded in my embrace."

It takes no more Latin than I have to know that Divus' Latin is not the Latin of Catullus and Ovid; that it is _illepidus_ to chuck Latin nominative participles about in such profusion; that Romans did not use _habentes_ as the Greeks used _ἔχοντες_, etc. And _nos_ in line 53 is unnecessary. Divus' Latin has, despite these wems, its quality; it is even singable, there are constant suggestions of the poetic motion; it is very simple Latin, after all, and a crib of this sort may make just the difference of permitting a man to read fast enough to get the swing and mood of the subject, instead of losing both in a dictionary.

Even _habentes_ when one has made up one's mind to it, together with less obvious exoticisms, does not upset one as

"the steep of Delphos leaving."

One is, of necessity, more sensitive to botches in one's own tongue than to botches in another, however carefully learned.